Selectively encodable envelope insert and related apparatus

ABSTRACT

A magnetically encodable envelope insert includes a plurality of detachable portions connected to each other and to a main central portion along weakened lines, and the detachable portions contain code bars so that the word, instruction or other quantity represented by the code bars of the insert may be selectively varied by tearing off from the remainder of the insert selected numbers of the detachable portions. Also a processing mechanism is provided for sorting the inserts according to the coded instructions of the inserts while the inserts remain in their envelopes. The processing mechanism is modularized so that it may be assembled as required to accommodate any given number of different code words or counts capable of being represented by the code bars of the inserts.

United States Patent 1191 Nelson et al.

LEEST AVAXLABLE COW [1 l] 1451 July 15, 1975 SELECTIVELY ENCODABLEENVELOPE INSERT AND RELATED APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Larry L. Nelson,Homestead; John R. Dehart, Coral Gables; William H. Krehl, Homestead,all of Fla.

[73] Assignee: Docutronix, Inc., Homestead, Fla.

[22] Filed: Sept. 7, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 395,007

3,652,830 3/1972 Kessler 235/61.12 N 3,663,802 5/1972 Wi1dhaber....235/6l.l2 M 3,704,781 12/1972 Lanahan 235/61.12 R 3,755,655 8/1973Senecal 235/6l.12 R

Primary ExaminerDaryl W. Cook Assistant ExaminerRobert M. KilgoreAttorney, Agent, or F irm-McCormick, Paulding & Huber [5 7] ABSTRACT Amagnetically encodable envelope insert includes a plurality ofdetachable portions connected to each other and to a main centralportion along weakened lines, and the detachable portions contain codebars so that the word, instruction or other quantity represented by thecode bars of the insert may be selectively varied by tearing off fromthe remainder of the insert selected numbers of the detachable portions.

[56] References Cited Also a processing mechanism is provided forsorting UNITED STATES PATENTS the inserts according to the codedinstructions of the 2 709 00 5,1955 Stab] 235/61 12 R inserts while theinserts remain in their envelopes. The 2 779 540 1/1957 1166 1151161.1:111:23: 235/61I12 R Processing mechanism is modularized so that it y3:035:764 5/1962 Beman 235 619 R be assembled as required to accommodatey given 3,052,350 9/1962 Marcovitz... 209/74 number of different codewords or counts capable of 3,087,612 4/1963 Duncan 209/74 beingrepresented by the code bars of the inserts. 3,378,674 4/1968 Unk235/61.12 R 3,482,082 12/1969 1516611 235/6l.12 R 9 Clalms, 4 DrawmgFlgures Detach and discord i i I this portion if paying 1 Always returnthis portion with your order l 24 l 26 28 3o Y Posm' Money Insert inenvelope behind punch card. I Order. [8 2 1 [l8 .8 i

l Do NOT FOLD l I n 1 1 i ABC COMPANY i 1 l ORDER I l 1 NUMBER or UNITS05511250 I I IF paying by check Detach 0nd discord A- |1 -1| A-2-Defc1ch and discard B gg ggt this 3-Detc1ch and discordC-- T Pd-Deroch and discordD- IC- T 5-Do not detach any of the right handportio+s. i i D SELECTIVELY ENCODABLE' ENVELOPE INSERT AND RELATEDAPPARATUS I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. 1

This invention relates to encodable envelope inserts which have aconfiguration ofcode bits,,in the form of bars of magnetizable ink,thereon and which include one or more code bar carrying detachableportions connected to the remainder of the insert by weakened lines,such as lines of spaced slits or perforations, so that the code word orbar count of the insert is changed by selectively detaching saiddetachable portions. The invention also relates to apparatus for sortingand col lecting said inserts in accordance with the instructionsrepresented by the code bars thereof.

The prior art includes coded envelope insert cards which are capable ofbeing magnetically encoded and used with various types of sortingmechanisms. However, each card usually has a coded instruction appliedthereto by machine andno provision is made for allowing a user tomanually vary or establish the coded instruction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is toprovide a manually encodable envelope insert which is readily encodedwithout the need'for any implements and wherein the code is of such anature that it may be read when the insert is contained in an envelopeor sim ilar carrier. In keeping with the invention, such an envelopeinsert includes a number of magnetizable ink bars at least a number ofwhich are applied to detachable strip portions so that the user maymanually encode the insert by selectively removing the aforementionedstrip portions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a manuallyencodable envelope insert in which the code means consists of aplurality of bars of magnetized ink so arranged that each insert will becorrectly read by a code sensor as the envelopes are passed successivelyendwise past the sensor, regardless of whether the insert is placed inthe envelope with its front face facing the front panel of the envelopeor with its front face facing the rear panel of the envelope, the insertbeing of sucha shape and size that, regardless of the number ofdetachable portions removed therefrom, it can be placed in its envelopeonly with its longitudinal centerline parallel to the longitudinalcenterline of the envelope to further assure proper reading by the codesensor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an envelopeinsert in which detachable strips containing magnetic code bits or barsare connected along weakened lines to opposite ends of a relativelylarge central portion of the insert and in which the code word carriedby the insert is changed by strip removal in a manual tear off" fashion,wherein the insert central portion and the coded detachable stripscooperate to define a flat insert of selected height, and whereinadvertising matter, operating instructions and the like may benonmagnetically printed onto the insert without affecting the magneticcoding thereof.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provideenvelope inserts such as aforesaid which are capable of beingmechanically sorted and collected according to magnetically .encodedwords while contained in envelopes or similar carriers, by mechanismwhich is modularized and which can be built up or reduced as desired toaccommodate the number of code word possibilities provided for by thecoding means of the inserts.

A further object of this invention is to provide an encodable envelopeinsert for use with a magnetic code reading sorting system, which insertis easy and low in cost to manufacture, which is easy to encode, whichwhenso encoded is readily decoded through an envelope, and which forms acard-like member of selected dimension and is capable of lying flat, andfurther, wherein code changes effected by manually tearing off selectedstrips of the insert do not affect the insert height.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a manuallyencodable envelope insert comprising one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, the thickness ofthe ink bar being exaggerated for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a stuffed and sealed envelope containing aninsert similar to that of FIG. 1, the envelope and its contents beingshown partially broken away to reveal the insert.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration ofa sorting apparatus for sortingenvelopes containing inserts such as shown in FIG. 1.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Viewing FIGS. 1 and 2, thesefigures show a magnetically readable and manually encodable envelopeinsert 10 which embodies the present invention and which is basically aflat card or piece of paper of rectangular shape, which shape anddimension is selected to suit a related envelope into which the insertis to be inserted for mailing or other transporting. The insert 10includes a relatively large central or main portion 12 and detachablesecondary portions 14 and 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d attached to the oppositeends thereof. Inserts similar to the insert 10 may be used in a greatvariety of situations in each of which the user manually encodes aninsert before inserting it into an envelope and wherein the coded word,instruction or other information of the insert may be read through theuse of a magnetic sensor while the insert, if desired, remains in theenvelope. For example, the illustrated insert 10 is designed as a mailorder form for use in ordering a particular item, in quantities of fromone to five units, and may be encoded by the user to indicate the numberof units desired and method of payment. As other possibilities, theencoding of the insert could be used to indicate a customer number ortype of customer to allow insert containing mail to be sorted bycustomer number or type; it could be used to indicate suspense dates toallow past-due bills to be selected and acted upon quickly; or it couldbe used to indicate the type of form, such as an Internal Revenue form,enclosed in the envelope with the insert to allow those envelopescontaining certain forms to be sorted from those containing other forms.

As mentioned, the code of the illustrated envelope insert of FIG. 1communicates both the method of payment which a customer is using inmaking a mail order to a merchandising organization and alsocommunicates the quantity of goods which the customer is ordering. Thedetachable portion 14 at the left-hand end of the insert is used tocommunicate the method of payment and includes five parallel bars 18, 18of magnetizable ink. The detachable portion 16a, 1612. I60 and 1641 atthe righthand end of the insert each contain one bar 18 of magnetizableink and the central or main portion 12 of the insert includes oneadditional bar 18 of magnetic ink. The bars l8, 18 may be applied to theinsert by a conventional printing process. The bar 18 on the centralportion, together with the bars 18, 18 on the detachable portions 16a to16d, are used to communicate the number of units of goods desired. Theend portion 14 and the end portions 16a to 16d are connected to oneanother and to the main portion of the insert by weakened lines 22, 24,26, 28 and 30 along which the insert may be readily torn to remove oneor more of the detachable portions from the insert. As illustrated, theweakened lines are formed by a series of spaced slits in the stock ofthe insert, but they could also be formed by perforations or other meansreadily applied to the insert stock during the manufacture of theinsert.

In accordance with the printed instructions given on the illustratedinsert 10, the sender leaves the left-hand end portion 14 attached tothe central portion 12 if payment is being made by check or manuallytears off the end portion 14 along the weakened line 22 if payment isbeing made by Postal Money Order. Similarly. and in accordance with theinstructions printed on the insert 10, if the customer wishes to orderonly a single unit of the goods in question, right-hand end portions16:! to 1611 are torn from the central portion 14 along the weakenedline 24. If two, three or four units of goods are being ordered. thecustomer tears along weakened lines 26, 28 or 30, respectively. If fiveunits of goods are being ordered, none of the portions 16a to 1611 areremoved.

To give a specific example, consider that a customer wishes to orderfour units of goods and to pay by check. In this case he merely leavesend portions 14 attached to central portion 12 and tears off the endportion 161! along weakened line 30. Since this leaves nine bars 18, 18remaining on the insert. this would be called a nine count insert.Actually, it will be understood from inspection of FIG. 1 that bytearing selected ones of the end portions 14 and 16a to 16d from theinsert 10, the insert may be made to selectively contain any bar countof from I to 10. Each count in turn represents a different piece ofinformation in accordance with the following code:

Count l lessage Payment by Payment by Payment by Payment by Payment byPay ment by Payment by The encoding of the insert 10 requires no specialequipment and can be readily done by the customer manually prior toinserting the insert 10 into an evenlope by merely tearing the insert 10along one or more of the weakened lines disclosed in FIG. 1, dependingupon the number of units ordered and method of payment involved.

The bars l8, 18, as mentioned, are of magnetizable ink and arepreferably so positioned on the insert 10 that they may be magnetizedand read by a single magnetizing head and a single sensing head in thesorting mechanism regardless of whether the insert is placed in theenvelope with its front face facing the front panel of the envelope orwith its front face facing the rear panel of the envelope. Such anarrangement is present in the illustrated insert 10 of FIG. 1 whereineach bar 18 passes through and is symmetrical about the longitudinalcenterline of the insert, it being assumed that the magnetizing head andthe sensing head of the sorting apparatus will be located so as theenvelopes containing the inserts are moved past the heads, the headswill be located approximately at the middle of the height of theenvelopes. If the magnetizing head and the reading head are to bepositioned substantially to one side of the longitudinal centerline ofthe envelopes passed thereby, the bars 18, 18 of the insert 10 may bemade of a length substantially longer than that illustrated in FIG. 1 toassure that a portion of each bar will be passed past the headsregardless of the manner in which the insert is placed in the envelope.In this latter case the middle portion of each bar could be omitted to,in effect, form each bar into two separate bars each located to one sideof the longitudinal centerline of the insert. Also, as will be evidentfrom FIGS. 1 and 3, the central portion 12 of the insert 10 has alength, longitudinally of the insert 10, greater than the height of theenvelope 34 with which the insert is used so that the insert can beplaced in the envelope only with its longitudinal centerline parallel tothe longitudinal centerline of the envelope regardless of the number ofdetachable portions removed therefrom. That is, even if all of thedetachable portions 14 and 16a to 16d are removed from the insert.leaving only the central portion 12, this remaining central portion 12has a length greater than the height of the envelope so that it can onlybe placed in the envelope 34 with its longitudinal centerline parallelto the longitudinal centerline of the envelope, thereby insuring thatthe code bar 18 of the central portion is 'oriented to cause it to bemagnetized and read by the magnetizing and reading heads of the sortingapparatus. In FIG. 3 the insert 10 is shown contained in the envelope 34along with an additional form 32 which contains a return address visiblethrough a window 36 in the front panel of the envelope. It will beappreciated, however, that the style of envelope used and the type ofother forms placed in the envelope with the insert of this invention mayvary widely.

Apparatus for reading the code of inserts contained in envelopes such asshown in FIG. 3 and for sorting such envelopes in accordance with thecoded information on the inserts is shown schematically in FIG. 4. Theelectronic circuitry and hardware which performs the sorting and otherfunctions of the apparatus of FIG. 4 may be selected from a greatvariety of available technology. as will be evident to those skilled inthe art, and hence a schematic representation and description thereofonly will be given herein.

An important feature of the mail processing unit 36 shown in FIG. 4 isthat it is divided into a number of modularized sections. This affordsgreat flexibility to the apparatus in that a set of desired functionscan be had by merely adding or removing modules of the mechanism. Thenovelty of the FIG. 4 configuration lies in the combination ofmechanisms used in the manner now to be described.

in the FIG. 4 apparatus, a mail feed section 38 is provided as the inputmodule and feeds envelopes in endwise succession to an edit section 46.The feed section 38 may, for example, be a device similar to that shownin US. Pat. No. 3,647,203. The edit section 46 includes electroniccircuitry to determine envelope length and thickness. If an envelope isover a preselected length, it is directed through appropriate gating toa Too Long" pocket 48, and if under a selected length, the envelope isdirected to a Too Short" pocket 50. Envelopes which are too thick to bemachine-processed will also be fed to one of the pockets 48 or 50.Envelopes of the proper dimension are automatically passed on by theedit section 46 to an opener section 52 in which they are transportedthrough an opener which removes the lower longitudinal edge of eachenvelope. This opener may, for example, be of the type shown in US. Pat.application Ser. No. 57,045, filed July 22, 1970. The opener section 52may be eliminated from the system if it is not desired to open theenvelopes in question or it may be placed before the edit section 46 ifall envelopes are to be opened regardless of size.

Assuming that opener 52 is in the system, the opened envelopes areautomatically fed from the opener to a read section 54 in which theenvelopes are first moved past a magnetizing head to magnetize the codebars 18, 18 of the inserts carried by the envelopes and are then movedpast a reading head. The reading head detects the code bars 18, i8appearing on the insert of each envelope and, for each envelope, the barcount is transferred to a logic section 60 where such information istemporarily stored in an electronic storage. From the read section 54the envelopes then pass in endwise succession to a sorter 62 consistingof six modularized sections 63, 63, referred to as pocket sections,arranged end to end in a series relationship so that each envelope movesin succession through the pocket sections until it is gated to itsdesignated destination by one of the pocket sections. As each envelopemoves down the sorter 62, from pocket section to pocket section, its barcount or address is simultaneously moved with it from one to the next ofa series of six registers 65, 65, referred to as Reg. 1 to Reg. 6, eachforming a part of the correspondingly numbered pocket section. Eachpocket section has four pockets or bins 66, 66 to which envelopes may begated. Two of these pockets are assigned to envelopes of the same barcount or address and the other two are assigned to envelopes of anotherbar count or address. The logic section 60 keeps a count of mail whichgoes into each pocket, including that which goes into the no code andnon-readable pockets provided by the last pocket section, Pocket Section6.

in the operation of the sorter 62 an envelope is first transmitted toPocket Section 1. As the envelope enters Pocket Section 1 it passes anelectronic detector 64, which may be a photodetector. and a signal isestablished to cause the logic section 60 to transfer the bar count oraddress of the envelope to Register 1 so that the bar count or addressof the envelope can be compared with the addresses of the pocketsprovided by Pocket Section 1. If, for example, the envelope has a barcount or address of one, it is gated by Pocket Section 1 into one of the1 count" pockets of Pocket Section 1. By appropriate circuitry in thelogicsection 60, a count of the number of envelopes going into eachpocket of the sorter is maintained, and'in addition to the bar count orbasic address for each envelope the logic section adds to theinformation passed to the registers an additional identifier orsubaddress indicating one or the other of the two pockets assigned tothe bar count in question depending on the number of envelopespreviously gated to said pocket. For example. the logic may act todirect the first one hundred envelopes of a particular bar count to oneof the two assigned pockets and to direct the next one hundred envelopesof such bar count to the other of the two assigned pockets, and torepeatedly thereafter switch from one pocket to the other after each onehundred count. Therefore, when one of the pockets is being filled, theoperator may remove the envelopes from the previously filled alternatepocket and the operator will know that each removed group of envelopestotals one hundred envelopes. I

If the address or bar count of an envelope is not a one count or a twocount, its address will not compare with that of any of the pockets ofPocket Section 1". Therefore, the envelope will be transmitted to PocketSection 2 and its address information will be transferred from Register1 to Register 2 as the envelope passesthe detector associated withPocket Section 2. ln Pocket'Section 2 the envelope address is comparedwith the addresses of the pockets presented by this section and it isgated to the appropriate pocket if a favorable comparison is made. If nofavorable comparison is made, the process is repeated with the envelopeand its address moving on to the subsequent pocket sections andregisters until it finally reaches its proper pocket destination. 7

If an envelope does not contain a coded insert or if its code isunreadable, as for example, by virtue of containing two coded inserts,it will be transmitted through all of the prior pocket sections toPocket Section 6 which accepts such no code" or unreadable codeenvelopes in its pockets. 2

It will be evident that due to the modular form of the processingapparatus 36, a greater number of pocket sections or a lesser number ofpocket sections may be used as required to provide sorting and sortagefacilities appropriate to the number of bar counts or addresses capableof being set up by the code bars of the inserts.

As used herein the term envelope insert" means any type of card-likemember which may be mailed or otherwise transported either in anenvelope or independently of an envelope. It should also be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the exact details of constructionshown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a personskilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A flat, rectangular encodable envelope insert of sheet material, saidinsert including:

a. a central portion having non-magnetized printed instructions of usethereon,

b. end portions connected to opposite ends of said central portion,

c. lines of weakening connecting said e'nd portions to said centralportion, and

d. code means in the form of a plurality of printed bars of magnetizableink spaced from one another along a line extending longitudinally ofsaid insert and the sum of which bars is the code of said insert, atleast some of said bars being located on said end portions so that saidbars convey selected information when both of said end portions areconnected to said central portion and so that the information conveyedby said bars changes as either of said end portions is severed from saidcentral portion.

2. An envelope insert according to claim 1 wherein at least one of saidend portions includes a plurality of strip members defined by andconnected to each other and to said main portion by a plurality ofspaced parallel lines of weakening, each of said strip memberscontaining one of said bars.

3. Apparatus for processing envelopes containing inserts magneticallycoded so that each insert includes a coded address selected from aplurality of possible code addresses, said apparatus being operable tocause envelopes with inserts bearing similar coded addresses to becollected together and comprising: a reader for reading the codedaddresses on the inserts of envelopes fed in succession thereto, a logicmeans operable to temporarily store the coded address of each insert asit is read by said reader, and a sorting means operably connected tosaid reader and adapted to receive envelopes from said reader insuccession after passing through said reader, said sorting meansincluding a plurality of pocket sections serially arranged so thatenvelopes in passing through said sorting means pass in succession fromone to the next of said pocket sections until reaching their finaldestinations, each of said pocket sections including a register, meansfor transferring the coded address associated with a particular envelopefrom said logic means to the register associated with the first of saidpocket sections as said envelope moves to said first pocket section,means for causing the coded address in the register of one of saidpocket sections to be transferred to the register of the next pocketsection as the envelope associated with said coded address moves fromsaid one pocket section to said next pocket section. each of said pocketsections including a plurality of pockets each having a particularaddress. each of said pocket sections including a means for comparingthe coded address in its register with the addresses of its pockets andto direct the associated envelope into a pocket if the coded address ofthe envelope corresponds with that of the pocket and to transmit theenvelope to the next succeeding pocket section if the coded address ofthe envelope does not compare with any of the addresses of its pockets.

4. A manually encodable card having a longitudinal axis, made from apiece of sheet material, and readable by passage parallel to saidlongitudinal axis past a reading head, said card comprising a mainportion having one end edge perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, aplurality of secondary portions arranged end to end along saidlongitudinal axis, one of said secondary portions being connected tosaid one end edge of said main portion by a first line of weakeningextending transversely across said card and defining said one end edge,said secondary portions being connected to one another and defined byother lines of weakening extending transversely across said card andspaced from one another along said longitudinal axis whereby anyselected number of said secondary portions may be removed from said mainportion by tearing along a corresponding one of said lines of weakening,and a plurality of machine detectable code bits on said card arranged inlongitudinally spaced relationship to one another along a line parallelto said longitudinal axis and the sum of which code bits is the code ofsaid card, said code bits being further so arranged that one and onlyone of said code bits is located on each of said secondary portions sothat when a selected number of said secondary portions are removed fromsaid main portion a corresponding number of said code bits are likewiseremoved to alter the sum of said code bits remaining with said mainportion.

5. A manually encodable card as defined in claim 4 further characterizedby said code bits being printed bars of magnetizable ink.

6. A manually encodable card as defined in claim 4 further characterizedby said plurality of code bits including one on said main portion ofsaid card.

7. A manually encodable card as defined in claim 4 further characterizedby said main portion having a second end edge parallel to said first endedge, and a further secondary portion located adjacent said second endedge of said main portion and connected to said main portion by afurther line of weakening extending transversely across said card anddefining said second end edge, said plurality of machine detectable codebits including a sub-plurality thereoflocated on said further secondaryportion.

8. A manually encodable card as defined in claim 7 wherein:

a. N the total number of code bits in said plurality of code bits, and

b. N/2 the number of code bits of said plurality of code bits on saidfurther secondary portion.

9. A manually encodable card as defined in claim 7 wherein:

a. N the total number of code bits in said plurality of code bits,

b. N/2 the number of code bits of said plurality of code bits on saidfurther secondary portion,

c. one code bit of said plurality of code bits is located on said mainportion, and

d. (N/Z-l the total number of said first mentioned secondary portionseach of which contains one of said plurality of code bits.

1. A flat, rectangular encodable envelope insert of sheet material, saidinsert including: a. a central portion having non-magnetized printedinstructions of use thereon, b. end portions connected to opposite endsof said central portion, c. lines of weakening connecting said endportions to said central portion, and d. code means in the form of aplurality of printed bars of magnetizable ink spaced from one anotheralong a line extending longitudinally of said insert and the sum ofwhich bars is the code of said insert, at least some of said bars beinglocated on said end portions so that said bars convey selectedinformation when both of said end portions are connected to said centralportion and so that the information conveyed by said bars changes aseither of said end portions is severed from said central portion.
 2. Anenvelope insert according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said endportions includes a plurality of strip members defined by and connectedto each other and to said main portion by a plurality of spaced parallellines of weakening, each of said strip members containing one of saidbars.
 3. Apparatus for processing envelopes containing insertsmagnetically coded so that each insert includes a coded address selectedfrom a plurality of possible code addresses, said apparatus beingoperable to cause envelopes with inserts bearing similar coded addressesto be collected together and comprising: a reader for reading the codedaddresses on the inserts of envelopes fed in succession thereto, a logicmeans operable to temporarily store the coded address of each insert asit is read by said reader, and a sorting means operably connected tosaid reader and adapted to receive envelopes from said reader insuccession after passing through said reader, said sorting meansincluding a plurality of pocket sections serially arranged so thateNvelopes in passing through said sorting means pass in succession fromone to the next of said pocket sections until reaching their finaldestinations, each of said pocket sections including a register, meansfor transferring the coded address associated with a particular envelopefrom said logic means to the register associated with the first of saidpocket sections as said envelope moves to said first pocket section,means for causing the coded address in the register of one of saidpocket sections to be transferred to the register of the next pocketsection as the envelope associated with said coded address moves fromsaid one pocket section to said next pocket section, each of said pocketsections including a plurality of pockets each having a particularaddress, each of said pocket sections including a means for comparingthe coded address in its register with the addresses of its pockets andto direct the associated envelope into a pocket if the coded address ofthe envelope corresponds with that of the pocket and to transmit theenvelope to the next succeeding pocket section if the coded address ofthe envelope does not compare with any of the addresses of its pockets.4. A manually encodable card having a longitudinal axis, made from apiece of sheet material, and readable by passage parallel to saidlongitudinal axis past a reading head, said card comprising a mainportion having one end edge perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, aplurality of secondary portions arranged end to end along saidlongitudinal axis, one of said secondary portions being connected tosaid one end edge of said main portion by a first line of weakeningextending transversely across said card and defining said one end edge,said secondary portions being connected to one another and defined byother lines of weakening extending transversely across said card andspaced from one another along said longitudinal axis whereby anyselected number of said secondary portions may be removed from said mainportion by tearing along a corresponding one of said lines of weakening,and a plurality of machine detectable code bits on said card arranged inlongitudinally spaced relationship to one another along a line parallelto said longitudinal axis and the sum of which code bits is the code ofsaid card, said code bits being further so arranged that one and onlyone of said code bits is located on each of said secondary portions sothat when a selected number of said secondary portions are removed fromsaid main portion a corresponding number of said code bits are likewiseremoved to alter the sum of said code bits remaining with said mainportion.
 5. A manually encodable card as defined in claim 4 furthercharacterized by said code bits being printed bars of magnetizable ink.6. A manually encodable card as defined in claim 4 further characterizedby said plurality of code bits including one on said main portion ofsaid card.
 7. A manually encodable card as defined in claim 4 furthercharacterized by said main portion having a second end edge parallel tosaid first end edge, and a further secondary portion located adjacentsaid second end edge of said main portion and connected to said mainportion by a further line of weakening extending transversely acrosssaid card and defining said second end edge, said plurality of machinedetectable code bits including a sub-plurality thereof located on saidfurther secondary portion.
 8. A manually encodable card as defined inclaim 7 wherein: a. N the total number of code bits in said plurality ofcode bits, and b. N/2 the number of code bits of said plurality of codebits on said further secondary portion.
 9. A manually encodable card asdefined in claim 7 wherein: a. N the total number of code bits in saidplurality of code bits, b. N/2 the number of code bits of said pluralityof code bits on said further secondary portion, c. one code bit of saidplurality of code bits is loCated on said main portion, and d. (N/2-1)the total number of said first mentioned secondary portions each ofwhich contains one of said plurality of code bits.